After Effects 3D 05 - align to path

In this clip, we take a solid and animate it along a path by parenting it to a null. We do this to allow ourselves the freedom to rotate the solid independently if we wish.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• After Effects
• 3D
• path
• null
• basics

[GDM223SR]

@gejanne: you could Google "after effects" with "chain" or "snake". There seem to be some tutorials out there on this subject.

[BBrtqB]

i know how to do all this but i just want to know how to make a perfect circular path with a null so i can add objects to it, any tips?

[GDM223SR]

@BBrtqB You rotate the null, then take the other layers and make them the children of the null. If that doesn't do what you want, could you please let me know what the specific problem is?

Thanks ...

[BBrtqB]

@GDM223SR I meant like an orbit... but do you mean parent something to a rotating null and just move the x?

[GDM223SR]

@BBrtqB What I asked you to do would give you an orbit, you just have to move the child layer away from the null. You have to work with 3D layers, and you probably want to rotate the null around its Y axis. The child layer has to be moved away from the null, otherwise they're in the same spot, as if the earth were sitting at the center of the solar system, so you need to move the earth away from the sun for it to orbit.

[ahkim87]

there's a therapeutic quality to this guy's voice and demo

[gejanne]

okay... one more question on this...

I've been struggling with this for ages, so please please help me out.

I'm working on a 2d animation, but I think the basic is the same.

I can see now how to move more than one object along one path.

BUT is it possible to have those several objects moving their way along the path on their own? I mean... I don't want one block to move along the path, but al the different pieces should be following eachother. So that I can create a snake.

Thank you!

[BBrtqB]

@GDM223SR k thank you thats exactly what i wanted :D